"A senior U.S. diplomat said the Obama administration remains opposed to a verification protocol for the Biological Weapons Convention but is open to other measures that would strengthen confidence in the disease nonproliferation regime, Arms Control Today reported in its June edition (see GSN, April 12).

(Jun. 20) - U.S. special representative Laura Kennedy, shown in February, said the Obama administration could propose measures other than a verification protocol to increase confidence in international adherence to the Biological Weapons Convention (U.S. Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna photo).
The BWC review conference in December is expected to assess the effectiveness of the pact's provisions and what effect developing technologies have had on the ability of member states to guard against the development, production and stockpiling of weaponized pathogens such as smallpox and anthrax."